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Faust: Night (2): Difference between revisions
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During the swordfight, Mephisto seems to step back and let Faust deliver the deadly strike on Valentine. Mephisto allows Faust to take on every aspect of the adventure that has now become his life. This devil has lead Faust into another serious life scenario, and forced Faust to take on all consequences of the devil's actions. The taunting of Mephisto never ends, the game he plays continues from his song for Gretchen to his leading Faust into a struggle for his own life. | During the swordfight, Mephisto seems to step back and let Faust deliver the deadly strike on Valentine. Mephisto allows Faust to take on every aspect of the adventure that has now become his life. This devil has lead Faust into another serious life scenario, and forced Faust to take on all consequences of the devil's actions. The taunting of Mephisto never ends, the game he plays continues from his song for Gretchen to his leading Faust into a struggle for his own life. | ||
Valentine seems to take his sister's actions personally. As his sister's brother, her actions will also affect him. He will be the brother of the girl who got pregnant before marriage. Not only will the snickers and sneers of the barmates become unbearable, but he and his entire family have now been disgraced. His anger is not only based on his sister being taken advantage of, but also based on his feelings of disgrace because of her. | Valentine seems to take his sister's actions personally. As his sister's brother, her actions will also affect him. He will be the brother of the girl who got pregnant before marriage. Not only will the snickers and sneers of the barmates become unbearable, but he and his entire family have now been disgraced. His anger is not only based on his sister being taken advantage of, but also based on his feelings of disgrace because of her. As he lay dying, Valentine condemns Gretchen for her actions. He calls Gretchen a slut, being "more judgemental than god" as he predicts a future for her where she'll be nothing but a whore ([http://www.wsu.edu/~brians/hum_303/faust.html Study guide]). He condemns her to a life of a "plague-infected corpse" who will "hide in dark and dirty corners" (I. 3586-93). Apart from his hateful lecture to Gretchen, Valentine dies a very calm death, perhaps seeing an early death more acceptable than a life as Gretchen the Whore's brother. | ||
==Study Questions== | ==Study Questions== | ||
==External Resources== | ==External Resources== | ||